The Irish standard., 1887-09-10

or lay cane across his shoulders, when
the affair must end in a roll in the gut
ter and bloody nose, or in being bound
over to keep the peace towards all he1
Majesty's subjects. Brian dreaded al
insult, too, from Mr.. Oliver Grindem
because he felt he should have satisfac-
tion. And what satisfaction could be
have that would not leave sting be
hind italmost as sharp as the unavenged
insult? The remedy would be almost as
bad as the disease. Brian's grand.
uncle did horsewhip Mr. Oliver Grin
dem's father during an election. But
that was sixty years ago. and his grand
uncle Immediately called upon Frank
Organ, of Kilnemanagh, when the
following short but pithv conversation
took place.
I'm after horse whipping Grindem.
Very good
Have you everything in order?'
All right
OF course. if he sends friend, Ill
refer him to you
Very well; I'll stay at home for the
evening to prevent disappolntment.'
Good morning. And let it be as
early as possible, as must go QUITO get
voters from the mountain
Brian did not regret those fire eating
times. But he could not help thinking
that, as rule, insulting a man now-a-
days was more or less cowardly pro-
ceeding. Therefore, giving or receiving
ali atfront was thing which lie wished
to keep clear Of. But when he remem~
bered Mr.. Oliver Grindem's ashy face
while he uttered the necessary apology,
with white lips and giaring eyes, Brian
felt that he had a deadly enemy.
| I'm not in his power, thank Heaven,
he thought. lam independent Of him >
| Yet it was the very Independence
which made the landlord hate him.
His grandfather had giYen a large sum
Of money for a lease, renewable forever,
Of Coolbawn; and the idea that there
was one tenant on bis own property
whom he could neither get rid OF nor
make tremb]e before him, was gall and
wormwood to Mr.. Oliver Grindem.
Brian's father, however, had no lease,
and as his landlord was head and ears
in debt, he felt q vague sort Of alarm,
lest 10y some unlucky chance his enemy
should get possession of the estate OF
which Ballycorrig formed part.
IF he does, he thought, there will be
ro mercy for us, and my poor fathers
heart will be broken. However, we
are almost tempted to suppress the vul-
gar a0age with which Mr.. Brian Purcell
the unpleasant subject
however, It's time enough to bid the
deyil good morrow when you meet him.
The fire blazed pleasantly and the
blaze was reflected all round the old
fashioned parlor ON the old-fashioned
mahogany furniture. Here we are again
tempted to suppress something, for we
dearly wish chat this young man should
stand we'll with our readers. Mr.. Brian
Purcell took an ordinary tobacco-pipe
from the chimney piece, and having
lighted it, began to smoke. Moreover,
at his elbow was drinking glass (corn-
monty called a tslmbler), with an am
ber- colored mixture in it That smoked
too. And now, having made a clean
breast of it, we can proceed with our
story with g clear conscience.
That half hour on Knockclough Hill
was fruitful OF sweet and bitter fancies.
He foolishly twisted his neck into
very grotesque and painful position for
the purpose Of looking at his left shoul-
der. However, she was so preoccupied
with the hunt, might she net have rested
her hand on his shoulder inadvertently?
Of course she might. But then, when
he looked round at one time, he found
that her eyes, instead of following
hounds and hun tsmen, were bent upon
him with a dreamy sort of look, as if
she was trying to remember something.
s.Bah!' exclaimed Mr.. Brian Purcell,
putting his pipe to his lips. But the
pipe had gone out, and its bowl was
quite cold, so that he must have been
brooding deeply for some minutes at
least. He had recourse to the pipe for
the purpose of driving away a thought
which kept lowering round and round
him, coming nearer and nearer, as if it
would nestle in his bosom. The thought |
Was--that Jane Evans loved him still.
A t;longhu which, we warn our gentle
man. is not to be frightened away with
a bah
Time has so far healed the old wound
that he tries to persuade himself that
the pain which it used to give him a few
years ago was not real,-was nothing
more than a dream.
Yet, why should deny it?' ne said
to himself. I did suffer. But have
proved that time and an ordinary share
Of strength of mind can cure the worst
cases of this kind. However, said
Brian Purcell after another pause, I
began to fear that a relapse is possible